Sometimes, when people arrive for a secret supper and they’re first through the door, the best way to welcome them is to get something on the table pretty pronto. They should of course be thanked – celebrated, even – for having survived the trials of our waiting list and for turning up at a stranger’s door on what is invariably, these days, a cold night. And while these aren’t exactly hot, they do go a long way towards breaking the inevitable ice of settling in at the table with a first drink. Having voulunteered to take the helm at Christmas this year, these may well be on the menu for a pre-supper starter with my family. They scale up easily if you’re cooking for large numbers, and are beautiful to look at.

Cut a baguette into thin widthway slices and grill on both sides until golden. Spread generously with ricotta, top with fine, fine slices of serrano ham, torn basil and a little drizzle of homemade fig vinegar if you’re lucky enough to have it. Mine was a gift from my godmother and it’s so good I can nearly drink it. If you don’t have anything along its lines, try a shot of balsamic, a squeeze of lemon and a spoon of maple syrup whisked up in a mug. Keep mixing until you have a sticky- sweet/tart combination that’s mellowed by the basil on the bruschetta. We replaced the serrano with halved figs for an elegant vegetarian alternative:

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Please enquire about private dining. We organise everything from personalised menus and ingredient sourcing to suit your budget, through to table laying and washing up.
We are also available for one-off projects and collaborations.